NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Fri, 09 Dec 2016 15:14:37 +0000http://ksmu.org
Michele SkalickyA managed deer hunt starts tomorrow at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, and the trails will be closed to the public for three days. The Missouri Department of Conservation has said the hunt is necessary to reduce problems caused by increasing deer populations in southeast Springfield. Those problems include traffic risks to drivers, damage to gardens, ornamental shrubs and other vegetation and poor health for the deer. Nature Center Manager Linda Chorice said they want to insure their deer population is healthy. Six archery hunters were chosen through MDC’s managed hunt drawing process to take part in this weekend’s hunt. They’ll be able to take three deer each. The hunters must hunt from elevated tree stands and maintain a distance of at least 35 yards from adjacent residential areas. While nature center trails will be closed for the hunt tomorrow through Monday, the visitor center will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow. The Conservation Department has posted signsDeer Hunt this Weekend at Springfield Conservation Nature Centerhttp://ksmu.org/post/deer-hunt-weekend-springfield-conservation-nature-center
49923 as http://ksmu.orgFri, 09 Dec 2016 14:17:44 +0000Deer Hunt this Weekend at Springfield Conservation Nature CenterMichele SkalickySpringfield Little Theatre presents Jean Shepard’s “A Christmas Story” at the Landers Theatre through Sunday (12/11). To learn more, 869-1334 or springfieldlittletheatre.org #thepresentrun, A 5K run and one mile walk, will be held tonight (12/9) at 7 in Aurora. The cost to participate is $10 and an unwrapped toy to benefit Hope for the Holidays. And the Aurora Christmas Parade starts at 2 tomorrow (12/10). Click here for details. The Arc of the Ozarks Christmas Extravaganza will be held tonight (12/9) at 5:30 at the White River Conference Center. The event will benefit the Rivendale Institute of Learning and Center for Autism. For more information, www.thearcoftheozarks.org Rudolph’s Five & Dime , a holiday bazaar, continues through today (12/9) in the Grand Lounge of Blair-Shannon Residence Hall at Missouri State University. A live auction will start at noon. Proceeds will go to the Wilda F. Looney Residence Life Leadership Scholarship Fund. The Springfield Greene County Library’sWeekend Outlook December 9-11, 2016http://ksmu.org/post/weekend-outlook-december-9-11-2016
49922 as http://ksmu.orgFri, 09 Dec 2016 14:01:30 +0000Weekend Outlook December 9-11, 2016Michele SkalickySpringfield has lost another police dog to retirement. Service dog, Terra, officially retired from her duties with the Springfield Police Department in November. The eight-year-old Belgian Malinois retired along with her handler, Officer Jeff Ferneau. Terra was born in Holland in 2008 and served the SPD as K9 partner to two officers since 2012. She was deployed 563 times and was responsible for locating 29 people, making 82 narcotics finds and assisting with 77 arrests. She’ll spend retirement with Officer Ferneau at his home. Meanwhile, City Council recently approved a $16,000 donation from the Springfield Police Foundation to fund the purchase of two new police service dogs to replace Terra as well as Aries, a police dog that retired in September.Furry Springfield Officer Retires from Servicehttp://ksmu.org/post/furry-springfield-officer-retires-service
49895 as http://ksmu.orgThu, 08 Dec 2016 21:43:00 +0000Furry Springfield Officer Retires from ServiceMichele SkalickyTourism continues to increase in Missouri. Governor Jay Nixon stopped at Silver Dollar City to announce that during Fiscal Year 2016, there were 41.7 million visitors in the state--a 3.2 percent increase from the 40.4 million visitors in the previous fiscal year. Those statistics are from the FY16 annual impact report by Tourism Economics, a division of Oxford Economics. According to Nixon’s office, overall, the tourism industry had a $16.5 billion economic impact on Missouri in FY16, up from $15.9 billion in the previous fiscal year. It says, during Gov. Nixon’s administration, tourism’s total economic impact in Missouri has increased by 34 percent. Tourism-related spending and employment in Missouri are also up. Tourism-related spending in the state increased to $13.1 billion in FY16, up from $12.4 billion in FY15, according to the Missouri Department of Revenue. Direct tourism-related employment rose to 307,937 jobs from 297,129 the previous year. The governor credits the awardingTourism Industry in Missouri Sees Growth in FY16http://ksmu.org/post/tourism-industry-missouri-sees-growth-fy16
49894 as http://ksmu.orgThu, 08 Dec 2016 18:31:28 +0000Tourism Industry in Missouri Sees Growth in FY16Lindsey ArgoSpringfield’s Sangha Studio will host a benefit tomorrow evening in support of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protesting the build of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Owner Alex Maurer and employees Abi Feil-Watts and Larissa Compton put this into action in late November and have already received a large show of support. The protest of the pipeline has sparked a large amount of “Stand with Standing Rock” campaigns across the country. The benefit’s Facebook event asks, “We’ve thought about it, talked about it, and ‘liked’ and ‘shared’ on Facebook about it – so, are you ready to do something about it?” Largely peaceful protests have been taking place for months against the $3.8 billion oil pipeline's route. They argue that it infringes upon sacred tribal lands and could put the local water supply at risk. The Army Corps of Engineers recently chose not to approve a key easement for the 1,170-mile long pipeline which, for the time being, halts construction. Sangha’s benefit is being sponsored byC-Street Yoga Studio to Host Benefit Supporting Standing Rockhttp://ksmu.org/post/c-street-yoga-studio-host-benefit-supporting-standing-rock
49884 as http://ksmu.orgThu, 08 Dec 2016 16:31:20 +0000C-Street Yoga Studio to Host Benefit Supporting Standing RockMichele SkalickyAs cold temperatures persist in the Ozarks, the American Red Cross is offering tips to stay safe. Temperatures today will remain below 30, tonight they'll be around 11, and highs tomorrow are expected to stay just below freezing. Some suggestions: wear layers of lightweight clothing, and wear hats and gloves to prevent heat loss. Remember pets—keep them indoors or, if they have to stay outside, make sure they have shelter and unfrozen water. If you use a space heater, put it on a level, hard surface and keep anything flammable—like clothing and paper—at least three feet away. Use a glass or metal fireplace screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs when using a fireplace. When leaving the room or going to bed, turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out. Keep the thermostat at the same temperature, day and night, and run water at a trickle to prevent frozen pipes. Never operate a generator inside the home, including in the basement or garage. Click here toKeep in Mind Safety Tips as Cold Weather Continueshttp://ksmu.org/post/keep-mind-safety-tips-cold-weather-continues
49878 as http://ksmu.orgThu, 08 Dec 2016 15:45:56 +0000Keep in Mind Safety Tips as Cold Weather ContinuesDr. David CornelisonEven though it is frequently discussed on the news, most people do not think much about the study of economics. It just seems like a way to describe a complicated process without having much control on the way things actually unfold. Dr. Ken Brown, who is the head of the Department of Economics at Missouri State University, spends a good deal of time helping students see where economics can make a difference in our lives. He stops by Stem Spots to chat about the origins of the “dismal science” phrase and some of the ways that economics is a science, from modeling the world to the use of data. He also talks about the field of experimental economics, where simple “games” can be used to gain insight into the way decisions are made by typical people who, of course, make up the system that he and his colleagues wish to understand.Economics: Applications Of The “Dismal” Sciencehttp://ksmu.org/post/economics-applications-dismal-science
49877 as http://ksmu.orgThu, 08 Dec 2016 15:45:00 +0000Economics: Applications Of The “Dismal” ScienceClaire KidwellGov. Jay Nixon is freeing up $1.875 million to complete renovations at Missouri State University’s Glass Hall, which houses the university’s College of Business. Nixon made the announcement from inside the facility Wednesday. He was joined by business students, faculty and school administrators. “The bottom line is that by watching our dollars carefully, and in investing in the things that we think can make the most difference, we have been able to get to where we are today,” he said. Nixon talked about Missouri’s economic growth and said education is its driving force, calling it the “best economic development tool there is.” In total, roughly $4 million in education and law enforcement dollars were freed up Wednesday. It came on the same day Nixon announced he was restricting $51 million in spending for Medicaid and excess bond authority. The Glass Hall project includes a complete renovation and expansion, with a 37,000 square-foot addition that will include a modern facility withNixon Releases Remainder of Glass Hall Renovation Fundshttp://ksmu.org/post/nixon-releases-remainder-glass-hall-renovation-funds
49872 as http://ksmu.orgThu, 08 Dec 2016 00:19:59 +0000Nixon Releases Remainder of Glass Hall Renovation FundsMichele SkalickyGreene County will host a retirement reception for Commissioner Roseann Bentley Friday. Bentley, who has served as the Greene County Commissioner for the Eastern District since 2004, will be replaced by Lincoln Hough who won the seat last month, defeating Libertarian Cecil Ince. Bentley served eight years in the Missouri Senate representing the Springfield area and was the first woman elected to that seat. As senator, she was on the Senate Appropriations Committee, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, chairman of the state’s Children’s Services Commission and was a member of the Missouri Tourism Commission. Bentley was a founding member of Ozarks Public Television and the first president of the Junior League of Springfield. The reception is planned for Friday from 3:30 to 5:30 in the Greene County Courthouse Rotunda.Greene County to Honor Commissioner Roseann Bentleyhttp://ksmu.org/post/greene-county-honor-commissioner-roseann-bentley
49808 as http://ksmu.orgTue, 06 Dec 2016 21:50:00 +0000Greene County to Honor Commissioner Roseann BentleyMichele SkalickyBased on a new study, the Springfield Fire Department could move staff and firefighting apparatus from two of its stations. According to a news release, the fire department is conducting a staffing and deployment study that it hopes will “significantly improve its responses within the community.” The study uses analytics software to evaluate a variety of factors: from the number of fire and EMS incidents to response times. It also looks at the number of responses where the fire department isn’t meeting the national standard for apparatus and personnel. Based on the study’s findings so far, the department said Fire Station 6, on W. Battlefield, should have its staffing and apparatus relocated to help cover west-central Springfield. Evidence also suggests that Fire Station 12, on S. Blackmon Rd., should have its staffing and apparatus moved to other areas of the city, most likely south-central Springfield, according to the SPFD. The department said, several years ago, resources from theSpringfield Fire Department Looks to Relocate Staff and Equipment from Two City Stationshttp://ksmu.org/post/springfield-fire-department-looks-relocate-staff-and-equipment-two-city-stations
49818 as http://ksmu.orgTue, 06 Dec 2016 19:57:02 +0000Springfield Fire Department Looks to Relocate Staff and Equipment from Two City StationsMichele SkalickyInterested in buying a college campus? The General Counsel of the Assemblies of God has hired a national real estate auction firm to sell the former Central Bible College at Norton and Grant. Fine & Company, LLC says the auction will take place in two bidding events, which will allow bidders time to inspect, evaluate and prepare to bid on the property. Preemptive bids for the entire property will be accepted through March 30. If the campus isn’t sold in its entirety, bidders will compete for individual parcels, combinations of parcels or the entire property at a May 31 auction. There are 24 buildings on the former college campus, including four residence halls, a dining hall, library, a chapel, an apartment building, a chapel, a gym and single family homes. There’s also undeveloped land, two ponds and a baseball field. In a news release, Fine & Company, LLC suggests possible uses for the site. It says “a private institution or not for profit may continue to utilize it as aCollege Campus in Springfield to be Auctioned Offhttp://ksmu.org/post/college-campus-springfield-be-auctioned
49812 as http://ksmu.orgTue, 06 Dec 2016 19:38:57 +0000College Campus in Springfield to be Auctioned OffScott HarveyThe Missouri Department of Transportation says it’s prepared for the return of harsh winter weather to the region. The agency’s southwest district says crews are watching weather forecasts and snow plows are ready and loaded with salt to clear area roadways of ice and snow if necessary. Snow and frigid temperatures are forecast starting Wednesday afternoon. Last year, MoDOT spent $3.5 million on snow-clearing operations. As it has in the past, MoDOT prioritizes its plowing operations by focusing on clearing major roadways like I-44, I-49, Route 60, Route 65 and Route 249 as quickly as possible. According to the agency, crews will work around the clock until the major roads are back to normal condition following a winter storm. As time allows, lesser traveled roadways will be plowed and treated. MoDOT says it has more than 300 pieces of snow-clearing equipment, close to 600 fulltime snowplow operators and 31,000 tons of salt disbursed among its maintenance facilities. MoDOT’s WinterMoDOT Eyes First Sign of Winter, Road Clearing This Weekhttp://ksmu.org/post/modot-eyes-first-sign-winter-road-clearing-week
49817 as http://ksmu.orgTue, 06 Dec 2016 18:42:14 +0000MoDOT Eyes First Sign of Winter, Road Clearing This WeekScott HarveyMissouri State University is among the employers rethinking how it implements new overtime pay rules after a federal judge recently issued a temporary injunction halting the change. In a memo to employees Tuesday, MSU President Clif Smart said the decision against the new Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) came as a surprise given the late date and impact on the process for so many entities. The Department of Labor is appealing the ruling. “The possible outcomes of the temporary injunction range from the court of appeals siding with the DOL, to possible changes to the new rule at some future time, to the new rule never being instituted. With a new administration taking office on Jan. 20, 2017, it is very difficult to predict the final outcome,” Smart said. In the meantime, MSU says it has suspended implementation of a portion of the FLSA-related changes until a resolution is clear. Employees who were reclassified as “professional non-exempt” will return to “exempt” status. More than 180MSU Suspends Portion of FLSA-related changes After Injunctionhttp://ksmu.org/post/msu-suspends-portion-flsa-related-changes-after-injunction
49815 as http://ksmu.orgTue, 06 Dec 2016 18:22:50 +0000MSU Suspends Portion of FLSA-related changes After InjunctionScott HarveyJoin KSMU this holiday season for a special lineup of programs, from Chanukah to Christmas to Zwanzaa, as well as a satirical hour of entertainment as we prepare to ring in the New Year. Many of our programs are made possible in part by our friends at Public Radio International. Enjoy! And happy holidays! Tue Dec 13, 10 am A Christmas Celtic Soujourn Now in its 15 th year, this Celtic celebration of the season features top-flight traditional singers and instrumentalists, and a story or two from the host Brian O’Donovan. Thur Dec 15, 7 pm Selected Shorts Holiday Gift Set Selected Shorts offers a selection of three special episodes this holiday season featuring marquee guest hosts, like Robert Sean Leonard. These classic short stories are narrated by some of the most talented actors from the stage, screen and television. Tue Dec 20, 10 am A Baroque Christmas in the New World Music from 17 th and 18 th -century Mexico, Peru and Bolivia, including a cantata and three free-standing works bySpecial Holiday Programs on KSMUhttp://ksmu.org/post/special-holiday-programs-ksmu
17674 as http://ksmu.orgTue, 06 Dec 2016 16:38:00 +0000Special Holiday Programs on KSMUEmily YeapWhile the holiday season is a time of enjoying festive food, family gatherings and gift giving, it also generates a lot of waste. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency , Americans throw away 25 percent more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. This amounts to 25 million tons of garbage, or about 1 million extra tons each week. To help people reduce, recycle and reuse during the holidays, Kelsey Esther, a senior geography, geology and planning student and Eco-Rep at Missouri State University, will lead two Green Holiday workshops on campus on Dec. 6, 4 p.m. in Cheek Hall, Room 175, and Dec. 7, 3 p.m. in Temple Hall, Room 145. The workshops are supported by the Student Sustainability Fund . ​Esther shares how people can make more sustainable choices this holiday season and all year long. For more information about the workshop or to sign up, e-mail Esther. ​Go Green During the Holidayshttp://ksmu.org/post/go-green-during-holidays
49109 as http://ksmu.orgTue, 06 Dec 2016 15:45:00 +0000Go Green During the HolidaysMike Smith“Sometimes you have to help the parents, to help the children.” With an extra emphasis at Christmas time, the not-for-profit, Help Give Hope, has assisted needy children and their families in the Ozarks since 1981, and on this edition of Making a Difference; Stories of Hope and Help, the story of how Help Give Hope accomplishes its mission, as told by 20 year HGH volunteer/Christmas Program Warehouse Manager, John Wyrsch, and Murray Beairsto, who, in 2006, became the Executive Director of Help Give Hope. Murray Beairsto: “I think the first time I met you, John, was the start of my 2 nd Christmas season, because the first year, Donna Richardson was involved, (with warehouse duties) and at that time, she didn’t have the time to do it anymore. And I had a conversation with Wade Palmer, who founded Help Give Hope, about what we would do, and he said “We need to get John back on board”, and so we talked on the phone, and met at Panera Bread on Sunshine.” John Wyrsch: “I remember that, and IHelp Give Hope: Helping Children and Families in Need Since 1981http://ksmu.org/post/help-give-hope-helping-children-and-families-need-1981
49687 as http://ksmu.orgTue, 06 Dec 2016 13:30:00 +0000Help Give Hope: Helping Children and Families in Need Since 1981Scott HarveySpringfield Public Works says salt supplies are full, vehicles have been inspected and its Street Operations division is ready for the impending winter season. Superintendent of Streets Ron Bailey says crews have been preparing for the snow removal season since September, and have over 9,000 tons of salt on-hand. “The guys who run these plow trucks all winter are ready to handle whatever comes their way,” said Bailey. “We have a great bunch of guys who are willing to help our citizens and dedicated to the tasks given them.” According to a news release from the city, Public Works manages approximately 775 miles of snow routes. Shifts of 36 crew members work 12 hour shifts, providing around-the-clock service during snow and ice events. This will be the second season Public Works is utilizing its Automated Vehicle Locator (AVL) units, which provide exact location, speed, and amount of salt being applied to the streets. The department says the real-time data helps detect malfunctions inSpringfield’s Street Division: Ready for Winter with 9,000 Tons of Salt on-Handhttp://ksmu.org/post/springfield-s-street-division-ready-winter-9000-tons-salt-hand
49790 as http://ksmu.orgMon, 05 Dec 2016 23:22:23 +0000Springfield’s Street Division: Ready for Winter with 9,000 Tons of Salt on-HandMichele SkalickySpringfield has lost a healthcare leader and advocate for the mentally ill. Dr. Todd Schaible, president and CEO of Burrell Behavioral Health, passed away over the weekend following a fall at his home last week. He was appointed Burrell’s CEO at its beginning in 1977 and was the organization’s leader for nearly 40 years. Dr. Paul Thomlinson, vice president of research and quality assurance, has been appointed acting president and CEO at Burrell. He described Schaible’s death as “the passing of one of the foundational leaders in mental behavioral health” not only in our community but in the nation. According to Thomlinson, Dr. Schaible "was the most remarkable leader." He said staff would leave meetings with Schaible challenged and thinking about what their greatest strength was. "And how you could deploy that in service of your own vision for your life and for your work, and he just had that incredible and unique, in my experience, very unique way of challenging people--askingMental Health Leader in Springfield for Many Years Passes Awayhttp://ksmu.org/post/mental-health-leader-springfield-many-years-passes-away
49769 as http://ksmu.orgMon, 05 Dec 2016 14:11:15 +0000Mental Health Leader in Springfield for Many Years Passes AwayRandy Stewart"It's very exciting--and hilarious. Hopefully. When we get an audience in there we will see!" laughs Equity actor Nathan Shelton. "It's hilarious without an audience," Rick Dines assures him. Dines is Springfield Contemporary Theatre's Managing Artistic Director, and he is directing Nathan in the third part of the 2016 SCT Solo Play Festival at Center Stage in Wilhoit Plaza: Joe Mantello's stage adaptation of the humorous essay by David Sedaris, The Santaland Diaries . Sedaris first read the essay on NPR's Morning Edition in 1992, and his reading became a holiday tradition. (You can hear Sedaris's original reading at this link: ) He did a much longer version on PRI's This American Life in 1996, the year Mantello created his one-man, one-act stage version. As Rick Dines says, "NPR made David Sedaris." Adds Nathan Shelton, "When I first got the role, I listened to Sedaris read it. His voice, and the way that he delivers it--the way he writes--it's so funny." After debuting off-Broadway,Springfield Contemporary Theatre's Third "Solo Play Festival" Production: "The Santaland Diaries"http://ksmu.org/post/springfield-contemporary-theatres-third-solo-play-festival-production-santaland-diaries
49684 as http://ksmu.orgFri, 02 Dec 2016 21:40:42 +0000Springfield Contemporary Theatre's Third "Solo Play Festival" Production: "The Santaland Diaries"Randy StewartOnce again this holiday season Springfield Little Theatre at the Landers, 311 E. Walnut, is producing Phillip Grecian's stage adaptation of humorist Jean Shepherd's now-classic A Christmas Story , which first saw the light of day in 1983 as a theatrical movie. Directing LT's production is the former Jessica Palmer, Little Theatre Education Specialist, and, since October 15, 2016, Jessica Bower . She and LT Lighting Designer Jamie Bower tied the knot between his finishing up directing Of Mice and Men at the Landers and Jessica holding auditions for A Christmas Story . Jamie is playing the role of Ralphie Parker's father, "The Old Man," originated by Darrin McGavin in the movie. He quips that marrying the director was his way of "getting cast in this show!" (And yes, he had to audition for the part just like anyone else.) If you're a fan of the movie, which dominates cable network TBS's Christmas Day programming every year, director Jessica Bower promises that "all those moments that areLittle Theatre Revives Jean Shepherd's "A Christmas Story"http://ksmu.org/post/little-theatre-revives-jean-shepherds-christmas-story
49680 as http://ksmu.orgFri, 02 Dec 2016 21:14:32 +0000Little Theatre Revives Jean Shepherd's "A Christmas Story"